Method and apparatus for slitting fabric on a circular knitting machine

ABSTRACT

Seamless tubular fabric is slit in a walewise direction as it is being knit on a circular hosiery knitting machine by means of the present method and apparatus. The slitting apparatus includes a hooked element which is moved outwardly beyond the needle circle to pick up and hold the yarn as it is fed to and knit on needles positioned adjacent opposite sides of the hooked element, and means is provided for subsequently severing the yarn held in the hooked element to thereby form a slit in the fabric as it is knit.

Unite States Patent [191 [111 3,834,192 Giraud [451 Sept. 10, 1974 i 1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SLITTING FABRIC ON A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,302,224 7/1962 France 66/92 Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [5 7] ABSTRACT needles positioned adjacent opposite sides of the hooked element, and means is provided for subsequently severing the yarn held in the hooked element to thereby form a slit in the fabric as it is knit.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB EM 3384.192

' SM 1 BF 2 ATTORNEYS PAIENIE SEPI 01914 SHEET 2 BF 2 ATTOR/VEVJ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SLI'ITING FABRIC 9N A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE This invention relates generally to a circular hosiery knitting machine and more particularly to an apparatus and method for slitting seamless tubular fabric in a walewise direction as it is being knit on the machine.

In the formation of panty hose type garments, it is the general practice to knit elongated seamless fabric blanks on a circular hosiery knitting machine. The blanks are slit a predetermined distance downwardly from the upper edge and the corresponding slit edges of a pair of blanks are then connected, as by a generally U-shaped seam extending through the crotch area and upwardly to the front and rear edges of the body portion of the panty hose. In some instances, extra fabric is inserted between the blanks to provide extra width in selected portions of the body of the panty hose. The slitting of the blanks may be carried out by drawing a sharp blade along the fabric in a separate operation. This is a time consuming and costly operation and the slits are not always formed in the desired position because the positioning and the length of the'slits is dependent upon the skill and accuracy of the operator. In some cases the blank may be slit by means of a heated wire while the blank is on a form. This slitting method requires the proper placement of the blank on the form.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for slitting tubular fabric, such as panty hose blanks, in a walewise direction as the fabric is being knit on a circular knitting machine to thereby eliminate a separate slitting operation and to insure that the slit is formed in the proper location.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for slitting tubular fabric which is selectively operable so that the length of the slit may be accurately controlled.

The present slitting apparatus may be used with single or multiple feed knitting machines. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes a yarn engaging and holding member supported for rotation inside of the needle circle and mounted for radial movement. The yarn engaging and holding member includes a hooked outer end portion and an upstanding operating butt adjacent the inner end portion. First cam means is positioned in advance of the first feeding station of the machine for engaging the butt of the yarn engaging and holding member and moving the hooked outer end outwardly beyond the circle of needles so that the yarn being fed at the knitting station is picked up and held while it is being knit on needles adjacent opposite sides of the yarn engaging and holding element. Second cam means is spaced from the last feeding station for imparting radial movement to the yarn engaging element to bring the yarn, being held in the hooked portion, into engagement with yarn severing means so that the yarn is severed with each rotation of the needle cylinder.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a typical seamless panty hose blank, showing a slit extending down one side and from the upper end thereof;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional plan view through the operating cams which control the radial position of the yarn engaging and holding member, looking downwardly on the circle of needles;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the yarn engaging and holding member and fragmentary view of the dial plate supporting the same;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the needle circle, illustrating the manner in which the yarn engagingand holding member is moved outwardly in a radial direction beyond the circle of needles as it passes the feeding station so that the yarn is laid across and held in the hooked outer portion as active needles are lowered to knitting position on opposite sides thereof;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the loop of yarn being held in the hooked outer end of the yarn engaging and holding member after the active needles on opposite sides thereof have knit;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating the manner in which the hooked 'end portion of the yarn engaging and holding element remains in an outermost position as it moves beneath the second yarn feeding station to pick up and hold a second yarn loop; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the manner in which the held yarn loops are cut as the yarn engaging and holding element is drawn inwardly so that the yarn loops are drawn into engagement with the fixed cutter blade.

In the drawings, the slitting apparatus is illustrated in use with a circular hosiery knitting machine having spaced apart first and second yarn feeding and knitting stations. However, it is to be understood that the slitting apparatus may also be used on other types of knitting machines having a single feed or multiple feeds.

While the slitting apparatus and method of the present invention may be used in slitting many different types of tubular fabrics in a walewise direction, it is of particular value in slitting panty hose blanks as they are being knit. A panty hose blank, indicated at B in FIG. 1, is usually knit from top to bottom and may be knit as a straight tube or it may be gradually reduced in size by reducing the stitch length or size, in the well known manner. The blank B preferably includes a small outtumed welt 10 at the upper end thereof, and an integrally formed single-ply body portion 11 extending downwardly therefrom. A shadow welt, indicated at 11a, may be formed at the upper end of the body portion 11, if desired.

The body portion 11 is preferably knit of a fairly heavy type yarn and may either be plain jersey knit or it may include tuck and/or held and float stitches to form any desired pattern therein. A band 12 of courses of run-resistant stitches may be knit at the lower end of the body portion 11. A leg portion 13 is knit integral with the band 12 and is usually knit of a fine denier thermoplastic yarn. The leg 13 may be either plain jersey knit or contain a pattern of special stitches to provide run-resistance and/or an. open mesh appearance, if desired.

The lower end of the leg 13 is reinforced to form a toe portion 14 which may be closed, as by seaming. If desired, the blank B may be provided with the conventional type reciprocatory knit heel and/0r toe pockets therein, and the lower toe end may be closed by the usual looping operation. While the body portion 11 is being knit, the slitting apparatus of the present invention operates to form a walewise extending slit which extends from the upper end of the blank B and down to the run-resistant band 12 and has opposed free edges 15, 150. j t

The small out-turned welt is preferably formed by knitting at each knitting station in alternate needles only while'holding stitch loops on the intervening needlesby passing these intervening needles beneath the stitch cams at each knitting station. Thus, the initial edge of the fabric is held on the intervening needles until the desired length of welt fabric has been formed and then all of the needles are directed through the stitch cams so that the held initial edge of the welt is joined to'the fabric, a well known manner. Of course, the upper edge of the panty hose blank B may be formed without the turned welt 10, if desired. In this case, the initial edge of the blank would be made up in the usual manner and all needles would be active, except those needles where the slit is formed.

The slitting apparatus of the present invention is illustrated as being used with a two-feed hosiery knitting machine, of the type manufactured by Scott and Williams. Only those portions of the knitting machine have been illustratedand described which are necessary to an understanding of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the machine includes a circle of needles N which are supported for vertical movement in a needle cylinder, not shown, that rotates in a counterclockwise direction during plain knitting. A first or main yarn feeding station or throat is provided in a latch ring 21 which surroundsthe needle circle N. A second or auxiliary yarn feeding station or throat 22 is spaced from the first knitting station 20 formed in the latch ring 21. The feeding stations are provided with the usual yarn feed fingers supported for movement into and out of yarn feeding position. Single yarn feed fingers 24, 25 are shown in active position at the respective feeding stations 20, 22 for feeding respective yarns Y and Y to the needles l\l..

The main and auxiliary feeding stations 20, 22 form a part of and are positioned above the usual main and auxiliary knitting stations whichinclude the usual stitch cams, not shown. Needle selecting means is provided in advance of each knitting station for cooperating with selector jacks positioned beneath each needle. The needles may be selectively positioned to pass the knitting stations at knit level, tuck level, or float or welt level.

A dial plate (FIG. 3) is supported inside of the circle of needles N and is fixed on the lower end of a shaft 31, which is drivingly connected in the usual manner to the needle cylinder drive mechanism, not shown, so that the dial plate 30 rotates in timed relation with the needles N. In the present instance, the dial plate 30 is formed by cutting away one side of the upper grooved portion of a conventional clial bed which normally supports transfer jacks or bits, not shown, for radial movement therein.

A yarn engaging and holding member, broadly indicated at C in FIG. 3, is supported for radial movement on the dial plate 30 and ir rcludes a relatively thin body portion 32 having hooked outer end portion 33 and an upstanding operating butt 34 adjacent its inner end. The member C is supported for radial movement between a pair of slide support brackets 35, 350. as by screws 36, 36:; (FIG. 3). Adjustment means, in the form of eccentric discs 40, 40a, is provided to adjust the distance between the inner faces of the support brackets 35, 35:1. The discs 40, 400 are supported on the dial plate 30 by respective screws 42, 42a and engage the outer portions of the support members 35, 350 so that the inner edges may be adjusted into close engagement with opposite sides of the body portion 32 of the yarn engaging and holding member C. Yarn cutting means is provided on the outer end of at least one of the support members 35, 35a and is formed by a bevel 45 providing a sharpened outer edge on the support member 35 (FIG. 3).

The radial position of the yarn engaging and holding member C is determined by suitable cam means supported-above the dial plate 30 and adapted to be engaged by the operating butt 34 of the yarn engaging member C. As shown in FIG. 2, the cam means includes a fixed outer cam ring 46, a fixed inner cam ring 47, and a vertically movable cam 48. The fixed outer cam ring 46 is provided with an inwardly curved cam portion 46a (FIG. 2) for moving the yarn engaging member C inwardly, for purposes to be presently described.

METHOD OF OPERATION As is well known, frne gauge sheer panty hose blanks are knit on circular hosiery knitting machines having 400 or more needles in the needle cylinder so that the needles are very close together. The panty hose blank B shown in FIG. 1 has a sheer leg portion 13 and will be described as being knit on a fine gauge machine. However, it is to be understood that panty hose blanks may also be knit on coarse gauge machines and the slitting apparatus of the present invention may also be used with coarse gauge machines.

To begin knitting, a make-up is formed by raising alternate needles to the knitting level at the main knitting station so that the yarn y, fed through the yarnfeed finger 24, is caught in the hooks of these alternate needles while the intervening needles are at a float or welt level and the yarn Y is laid in in front of and behind every other needle. All needles are then raised to pick up and knit the yarn Y as they pass the main knitting station during the second rotation. During their first two rotations of the needle cylinder to form the make-up, the cam 48 (FIG. 2) is preferrably raised so that the yarn engaging and holding member C remains in an innermost inactive position and does not pick up yarn in the hooked outer portion 33.

During the third rotation of the needle cylinder, every other needle is lowered to float or welt level at the main knitting station to hold their stitch loops while the out-tumed welt 10 is formed. During this third rotation, the auxiliary knitting station is activated to start two-feed knitting of the welt 10. The vertically movable cam 48 is also lowered to a position where it will engage the butt 34 of the yarn engaging and holding member C so that the hooked outer end portion 33 moves outwardly beneath the main yarn feeding station 20, as shown in FIG. 4. So that the member C will not interfer with the needles, one or more needles, such as the three indicated at N in FIG. 4, are lowered to an inactive position to pass the yarn feeding station 20 at a float or welt level so that the yarn engaging member C is moved outwardly above their hooks and beyond the needle circle.

As the needles continue to move in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 4, the

active needles, at opposite sides of the three inactive needles N, pick up the yarn Y in their hooks and are drawn down to stitch forming level, drawing the yarn Y downwardly across the hooked outer portion 33. As stitch loops are formed on the active needles N, a loop of the yarn Y is held on the hooked outer end portion 33, as shown in FIG. 5. The yarn engaging and holding member C remains in an outermost position as it moves past the second yarn feeding station 22 FIG. 2).

The same three needles N remain in a lower inactive position as they pass the second knitting station 22 at a float or welt level as shown in FIG. 6 so that the yarn Y is drawn down over the hooked outer portion 33 as the active needles adjacent opposite sides pick up and knit the yarn Y. After the yarn engaging and holding member C moves past the second knitting station 22, yarn loops of the yarn Y and Y are held in the hooked outer portion 33. With further rotation of the needle cylinder and the dial plate 30, the butt 34 of the member C engages the inwardly curved cam portion 46a of the fixed cam ring 46 (FIG. 2) and the member C is drawn inwardly (FIG. 7) so that the held loops engage and are cut by the sharpened outer edge formed by the bevel 45 on the support member 35.

During each rotation of the circle of needles N, the yarn engaging member C is moved outwardly by the movable cam 48 to pick up and hold loops of yarn at both the main and auxiliary knitting stations 20, 22 and is then moved inwardly by the cam portion 46a so that the held yarns are cut prior to the knitting of the next pair of courses during the next rotation of the circle of needles N. When the desired number of courses have been knit to form the out-turned welt 10, all needles, except the three needles N, begin knitting to join the loops to the fabric which have been held on the intervening inactive needles.

As knitting of the shadow welt 11a and body portion 11 continues, loops of the, yarns Y and Y are held at each knitting station and then cut with each rotation of the circle of needles. To discontinue the slitting of the fabric at the desired point, the movable cam 48 is raised so that it will not engage the operating butt 34 and the member C is not moved outwardly but remains in an inner inactive position. The three inactive needles N then pick up yarn and form stitch loops at each knitting station so that these three needles will again start knitting as soon as yarn is fed thereto, at the bottom end of the slit. Seamless knitting-then continues down through the leg portion 13 and any suitable type of yarn may be used to form any desired stitch pattern.

When the panty hose blank B is removed from the knitting machine, the walewise slit is formed in the proper position and is of the desired length. Since the holding and cutting of the yarn loops does not begin until after the make-up courses, the make-up yarns will still be connecting the initial edge of the out-turned welt and this yarn may be cut with a pair of scissors or the like. However, it is to be understood that the yarn engaging andholding member C could be operated during the first two rotations of the needle cylinder while the make-up is being formed so that the yarn would be cut. In this case, the opposite sides 15, 15a of the slit would not be connected. The panty hose blank B is then joined to another panty hose blank, in the usual manner, to complete the panty hose garment.

The holding of loops of yarn at each knitting station and subsequent cutting of the loops to slit the fabric as it is being knit is accomplished in a simple and economical manner without requiring extensive modification of the machine. The movable cam 48 (FIG. 2) forms first cam means for moving the yarn engaging and holding member C outwardly to pick up and hold loops of yarn at each knitting station while the inwardly curved cam portion 46a forms second cam means for imparting radial movement to the member C to cause the held loops of yarn to be cut. The cutting means is not limited to the sharpened edge of the support member 35 but may comprise any other suitable type of cutter or yarn severing means, such as a heated wire or the like.

In the drawings and specification there have been set .forth several preferred embodiments of the invention and a dial, needles supported for vertical movement in said cylinder, and at least one knitting station where yarn is fed to said needles and the needles are then drawn down to stitch forming level to form courses of stitch loops, said method comprising the steps of a. holding the yarn with a dial supported element and at a given point and maintaining the yarn above the level of the needles as they are drawn down to stitch forming level at said knitting station to form a held yarn loop extending upwardly from said needles,

b. severing the held loop of yarn at a location spaced from said knitting station and after needles adjacent opposite sides of the held loop have formed stitch loops to provide the walewise slit in the fabric, and

c. repeating steps (a) and (b) during each of a plurality of needle cylinder rotations to slit the fabric as it is being knit.

2. A method of slitting a seamless tubular fabric according to claim 1 wherein said knitting machine has multiple knitting stations and wherein said method includes holding the yarn to form a held yarn loop at the same needles at each knitting station, and then severing all of the held loops at a common location spaced from the last knitting station.

3. A method of slitting a seamless tubular fabric according to claim 1 including the step of maintaining at least one needle at a low inactive level at said knitting station so that said low needle does not pick up the yarn and knit, and holding the yarn loop above said low needle while needles on opposite sides thereof form stitch loops.

4. A method of slitting a seamless tubular fabric according to claim 3 wherein three successive needles are maintained at a low inactive level at said knitting station, and holding the yarn loop above said three needles while needles on opposite sides thereof form stitch loops.

5. In a circular knitting machine having a rotating cira. a yarn engaging and holding member supported inside of said needle circle and rotating in timed relationship to rotation of said needle circle, said yarn engaging member being supported for radial movement and including a hooked outer end portion,

' b. first cam means positioned in advance of said knitting station for moving said hooked outer end outwardly-beyond said circle of needles to engage the yarn atsaid one knitting station and hold the yarn while it is knit on needles adjacent opposite sides of said yarn engaging and holding member,

c. yarn cutting means for severing the yarn held by said yarn engaging and holding member at a position spaced from said knitting station, and

d. second cam means spaced from said knitting sta tion for imparting radial movement to said yarn engaging and holding member to bring the yarn held in said hooked outer end portion into engagement with said cutting means and to thereby sever the held yarn.

6. In a circular knitting machine according to claim including an upstanding operating butt on the inner portion of said yarn engaging member, and wherein said first cam means includes a vertically movable cam supported above said yarn engaging member and being selectively movable between a lowered position and a raised position, said movable cam being operable to engage said butt and move said hooked outer end of said yarn engaging member outwardly beyond said needle circuit when said movable cam is in said lowered position, and said movable cam being out of position to engage said butt when in said raised position whereby said yarn engaging member remains in an inner inoperative position. v

7. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 6 including an outer fixed cam ring and an inner fixed cam ring supported above said yarn engaging element and forming a confined path of of said yarn engaging member and forming an operating groove therefor, said butt of said yarn engaging element, and wherein said second cam means comprises an inwardly curved cam portion on said outer cam ring for engaging said butt to draw said yarn engaging element inwardly to bring a yarn loop held thereby into engagement with said yarn cutting means.

8. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 7 including a dial plate rotating in timed relation with said needle circle and supporting the lower edge of said yarn engaging member for sliding movement thereon, a support bracket positioned on each side of said yarn engaging member and forming an operating groove therefor, and means for adjusting the positions of the 'outer ends of said support brackets to thereby change the width of the operating groove therebetween.

9. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 8 wherein said yarn cutting means comprises a beveled outer end on one of said support brackets, said beveled outer end extending inwardly and away from said yarn engaging member and forming a sharpened edge adjacent one side of said hooked outer end portion of said yarn engaging member.

10. In a circular knitting machine having a rotating circle of needles, and a dial plate rotating in timed relation therewith and at least one knitting station having yarn feeding means and being positioned closely adjacent said circle of needles, the combination therewith of means for slitting tubular fabric in a walewise direction as the fabric is being knit on said machine, said slitting means located in said dial plate comprising a. a yarn engaging and holding member supported inside of said needle circle and rotating in time relationship to rotation of said needle circle, said yarn engaging member being supported for radial movement and including a hooked outer end portion,

. first cam means positioned in advance of said knitting station for moving said hooked outer end outwardly beyond said circle of needles to engage the yarn at said one knitting station and hold the yarn while it is knit on needles adjacent opposite sides of said yarn engaging and holding member,

c. yarn cutting means for severing the yarn held by said yarn engaging and holding member at a position spaced from said knitting station, and

d. second cam means spaced from said knitting station for imparting radial movement to said yarn engaging and holding member to bring the yarn held in said hooked outer end portion into engagement with said cutting means and to thereby sever the.

held yarn.

11. A method of simultaneously knitting a seamless tubular weft knit hosiery blank and slitting one side of said hosiery blank in a walewise direction on a circular knitting machine having a rotating dial plate and cylinder, needles supported for vertical movements in said cylinder and at least one knitting station comprising the steps of,

a. feeding yarn to the knitting needles and drawing same down to form a plurality of courses of stitch loops in said hosiery blank,

b. projecting outwardly from said dial a yarn engaging element so as to hold the yarn at a given point above the level of the needles as they are drawn down to stitch forming'level at said knitting station to form a held yarn loop extending upwardly from said needles,

c. retracting said yarn engaging element to sever said held loop of yarn at a location spaced from said knitting station and after needles adjacent opposite sides of said held loop have formed stitch loops, and

d. repeating steps (bland (0) during each of a plurality of needle cylinder rotations to slit said one side of said hosiery blank. a:

UNITED STATES PATENT VOFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 834, 192 Dated September 10, 1974 lnv n fl Benjamin Giraud It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, Line 13, after 'as" insert --the--;

Column 3, Line 6, change "in" to --on---;

Column 4, Line 37,. change "y" to --Y Column 5, Line 9, after "22"insert Column 5, Line 59, insert a space between "andholding";

Column 6 Line 17, change "purposns to purposes--;

Column 7, Line 30, change "circuit" to --circle-;

Column 7, Lines 38-39, delete "of said yarn engaging member and forming an operating groove therefor, and insert the following after "of" in Line 38: --travel therebetween for--.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY GIBSON JR. I C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F OHM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-969 t 0.3. eovnmmu' unmnc own: an o-su-no 

1. A method of slitting a seamless tubular fabric in a walewise direction as the fabric is being knit on a circular knitting machine having a rotating needle cylinder and a dial, needles supported for vertical movement in said cylinder, and at least one knitting station where yarn is fed to said needles and the needles are then drawn down to stitch forming level to form courses of stitch loops, said method comprising the steps of a. holding the yarn with a dial supported element and at a given point and maintaining the yarn above the level of the needles as they are drawn down to stitch forming level at said knittIng station to form a held yarn loop extending upwardly from said needles, b. severing the held loop of yarn at a location spaced from said knitting station and after needles adjacent opposite sides of the held loop have formed stitch loops to provide the walewise slit in the fabric, and c. repeating steps (a) and (b) during each of a plurality of needle cylinder rotations to slit the fabric as it is being knit.
 2. A method of slitting a seamless tubular fabric according to claim 1 wherein said knitting machine has multiple knitting stations and wherein said method includes holding the yarn to form a held yarn loop at the same needles at each knitting station, and then severing all of the held loops at a common location spaced from the last knitting station.
 3. A method of slitting a seamless tubular fabric according to claim 1 including the step of maintaining at least one needle at a low inactive level at said knitting station so that said low needle does not pick up the yarn and knit, and holding the yarn loop above said low needle while needles on opposite sides thereof form stitch loops.
 4. A method of slitting a seamless tubular fabric according to claim 3 wherein three successive needles are maintained at a low inactive level at said knitting station, and holding the yarn loop above said three needles while needles on opposite sides thereof form stitch loops.
 5. In a circular knitting machine having a rotating circle of needles, and at least one knitting station having yarn feeding means and being positioned closely adjacent said circle of needles, the combination therewith of means for slitting tubular fabric in a walewise direction as the fabric is being knit on said machine, said slitting means comprising a. a yarn engaging and holding member supported inside of said needle circle and rotating in timed relationship to rotation of said needle circle, said yarn engaging member being supported for radial movement and including a hooked outer end portion, b. first cam means positioned in advance of said knitting station for moving said hooked outer end outwardly beyond said circle of needles to engage the yarn at said one knitting station and hold the yarn while it is knit on needles adjacent opposite sides of said yarn engaging and holding member, c. yarn cutting means for severing the yarn held by said yarn engaging and holding member at a position spaced from said knitting station, and d. second cam means spaced from said knitting station for imparting radial movement to said yarn engaging and holding member to bring the yarn held in said hooked outer end portion into engagement with said cutting means and to thereby sever the held yarn.
 6. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 5 including an upstanding operating butt on the inner portion of said yarn engaging member, and wherein said first cam means includes a vertically movable cam supported above said yarn engaging member and being selectively movable between a lowered position and a raised position, said movable cam being operable to engage said butt and move said hooked outer end of said yarn engaging member outwardly beyond said needle circuit when said movable cam is in said lowered position, and said movable cam being out of position to engage said butt when in said raised position whereby said yarn engaging member remains in an inner inoperative position.
 7. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 6 including an outer fixed cam ring and an inner fixed cam ring supported above said yarn engaging element and forming a confined path of of said yarn engaging member and forming an operating groove therefor, said butt of said yarn engaging element, and wherein said second cam means comprises an inwardly curved cam portion on said outer cam ring for engaging said butt to draw said yarn engaging element inwardly to bring a yarn loop held thereby into engagement with said yarn cutting means.
 8. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 7 including a dial plate rotating in timed relation with said needle circle and supporting the lower edge of said yarn engaging member for sliding movement thereon, a support bracket positioned on each side of said yarn engaging member and forming an operating groove therefor, and means for adjusting the positions of the outer ends of said support brackets to thereby change the width of the operating groove therebetween.
 9. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 8 wherein said yarn cutting means comprises a beveled outer end on one of said support brackets, said beveled outer end extending inwardly and away from said yarn engaging member and forming a sharpened edge adjacent one side of said hooked outer end portion of said yarn engaging member.
 10. In a circular knitting machine having a rotating circle of needles, and a dial plate rotating in timed relation therewith and at least one knitting station having yarn feeding means and being positioned closely adjacent said circle of needles, the combination therewith of means for slitting tubular fabric in a walewise direction as the fabric is being knit on said machine, said slitting means located in said dial plate comprising a. a yarn engaging and holding member supported inside of said needle circle and rotating in time relationship to rotation of said needle circle, said yarn engaging member being supported for radial movement and including a hooked outer end portion, b. first cam means positioned in advance of said knitting station for moving said hooked outer end outwardly beyond said circle of needles to engage the yarn at said one knitting station and hold the yarn while it is knit on needles adjacent opposite sides of said yarn engaging and holding member, c. yarn cutting means for severing the yarn held by said yarn engaging and holding member at a position spaced from said knitting station, and d. second cam means spaced from said knitting station for imparting radial movement to said yarn engaging and holding member to bring the yarn held in said hooked outer end portion into engagement with said cutting means and to thereby sever the held yarn.
 11. A method of simultaneously knitting a seamless tubular weft knit hosiery blank and slitting one side of said hosiery blank in a walewise direction on a circular knitting machine having a rotating dial plate and cylinder, needles supported for vertical movements in said cylinder and at least one knitting station comprising the steps of, a. feeding yarn to the knitting needles and drawing same down to form a plurality of courses of stitch loops in said hosiery blank, b. projecting outwardly from said dial a yarn engaging element so as to hold the yarn at a given point above the level of the needles as they are drawn down to stitch forming level at said knitting station to form a held yarn loop extending upwardly from said needles, c. retracting said yarn engaging element to sever said held loop of yarn at a location spaced from said knitting station and after needles adjacent opposite sides of said held loop have formed stitch loops, and d. repeating steps (b) and (c) during each of a plurality of needle cylinder rotations to slit said one side of said hosiery blank. 